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Heroin Information
The statistics of drug use are
undergoing a frightening change. Although the use of gateway drugs
such as marijuana seem
to be leveling out, use of the more permanently debilitating drugs
such as heroin are increasing alarmingly fast. There is an epidemic
of so-called "casual" use in the United States. While the percentage
of heroin users who administer the drug via Intravenous (IV) injection
is the same, more and more are smoking or sniffing the drug. It
seems America’s youth are buying into the misconception that
as long as they do not use heroin Intravenously, they will not
become hooked.
According to the National
Institute on Drug Abuse there are currently 600,000 heroin addicts
needing treatment. Heroin has many serious health hazards associated
with its use. HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, Fatal Overdose, Collapsed
Veins and Infectious Diseases just to name a few.
Aside from the debilitating
effects of long-term use the heroin user will most likely suffer
from three factors: Tolerance, Addiction and Withdrawal.
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Common paraphernalia associated with heroin use include
spoons, cotton balls, needles or "rigs", foil, straws, razor
blades, matches or candles and tourniquets. |
Tolerance
What is meant by tolerance is that
the more a person uses a drug the more the person has to take to
experience the high. Heroin has a high rate of tolerance, which makes
the drug that much more addictive and dangerous.
Addiction
Once a physical dependence occurs the user becomes addicted.
As more low-priced, high-quality street heroin becomes more available,
this can happen within the first few uses of the drug.
Withdrawal
One of the most troubling aspects
of heroin addiction is the withdrawal period. Among users this
is called “dope sickness”.
With long-term users this may be a daily exercise in desperation.
Withdrawal may occur as soon as two hours after the last dose and
symptoms include drug craving, restlessness, insomnia, cramping,
vomiting and diarrhea, cold flashes and kicking movements (hence
the term “kicking dope”). These symptoms occur most visibly
between 48 and 72 hours after last use and may continue up to a
week or more. Among long-term dependent users withdrawal may require
hospitalization
as it is occasionally fatal although less so than barbiturates
and alcohol.
For more information on heroin check: www.heroinabuse.net
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